Retractable pintle rig for laying sheet metal flooring



Oct. 30, 1951 L. c. LUKE 2,572,873

RETRAC'IABLE PINTLE RIG FOR LAYING SHEET METAL FLOORING Filed Dec. 51, 1948 4 2 SHEETS-SHEET l C ATTOR/VFY y L. C. LUKE oct. 3o, 1951 RETRACTABLE PINTLE RIG FOR LAYING SHEET METAL FLOORING Filed Dec. 3l, 1948 2 SI-{EETS--SHEET 2 JNVENTOR. l m;

6% A fron/v6- Patented Oct. 30, 1951 yRETRAflA:Lllf PINTLEY RIG FQRLAYING `.SHEET METAL FLOORING i Leo 51C.-v Luke, vEvansville, Ind., eassigner vtoInternationalcSteell Company;Evansvlleflndg alcorporation ofi-Indiana Claims. v'l

Mylinventionrelates broadly toI transportation lequipment, and more'particularlyto the vrc'onvstructionof an improvedrig for'laying a sanitaryffloor on the'basestructure ofa transportation unit.

One kof the objects'of my invention is` to4 provide an improved kconstruction `of rigfor laying metallic sheet ii'ooringv on a basev` structure.

Another `object of Vmy` invention is to "provide an arrangement of retractible pintle rig for en- "gaging and 4supportingv a metallic sheet ooring for suspending and placing the vmetallic ooring sheet within the confines "of 'abase structure `for automaticrelease When' the flooring is propverly locatedwith respect Ito thebase'structure.

Another object of myI invention is to provide an arrangement of rig for'suspending a metallic l'floor of relatively large area on projectable pintles operative to introduce the iiooring into the'con- V'fined area of abase structurevv formovement from 'an'elevated position to aposition'over thebase .structure for automatic"release'when the metallic `flooring vreaches Va position Vof vrest lonthe bottomof the base structure.

AOther `and further objects of my invention reside in an arrangementv` of sldablev pint-lesfor a floor suspension and `installation Yrig asset 1" orth more' fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l schematically illustrates a-'section of metallic flooring being lowered into 'abase 'structure by the rig of my invention'prior'to contactingy the bottomY of the' baser structurejFigiZ illustrates the rig of Figyl after the sheet ilooring suspended thereby has reached a position contacting' with the bottomof the'base structure;

Fig. 3'is a plan view showing the'rigzju'st rafter release of the metallic "flooring with respect to the base structure; Fig. 4 'is an "enlarged v`'View partially' broken aWayIand'shQWn' in'section' and v.illustrating the suspension rig,`ithelpintles therein and the metallicsheetooring engaged' thereby during the suspension and lowering'processl illustrated in Fig. 1;"Fig.' 5 is'a' view.v similarL to that of Fig. 4 but illustrating the'position' of the sliding.' pintles just afterlthe release of the metallic 'flooring andnstallation` thereof on the Vbottom of 'the base structure; `Fig. 6 is la viewsimilanto Fig. 5 except showingthe fragmentary end "of the 'rig where'the rig is" illustrated "as' lowered 'still Vfurther into the base structure withithe metallic "ilooring released therefrom; Fig. Y"7 is "a side elevational View of the projecting en'd. f

one of'theV pitles;"Fg."8 is a vertical sectional` a Iverticalsectional=view taken on line 9--9 of Fig.' 4.

My invention is directed to a rapid method Aof Avand-apparatus vfor assembling asheet flooring with respect to a base structure for producing-a Ysanitarysurface which may be readily washed andcleaned The invention isparticularlydirected toa construction of retractibleland provjectable` pintle rig for -suspending metallic sheet flooring and moving the ooring into position with respect to the'base structure :Where itY may be released for installation on the bottom of-the -`base str-ucture. Ik

liiooring in I refrigerator cars nWhere v a Y mass of I have found the rig of my invention verypractical for laying stainless steel very substantial weight of-the' order of -500-600 i lbs. A`is'lowered into position and released at' the bottom for installation. The rig is .provided-with a multiplicity of vlaterally extending frame mem- "bers in the opposite ends of which slidable' pintle 4*members are provided. The'slidable pintle-memv*bers engage in'apertures along the side wallsY of the metallic sheet constituting the oor, enabling the metallic sheet to be suspended in acatenary,

dimensioned'to fit a confined space such asf the enclosure of Va transportation unit Lsuch as-a wholly retracted position.

trunk or refrigerator car with the Vpintles in As the catenary formed by the sheet :flooring flattens out against /the'bottom 'of the base structure, the slidable pintles move outwardly with respect to the frame members and automatic-ally release the suspended ooring; allowing the flooring to settle intoposition for installation on the base structure.

Referring to the drawings in more' detail,y rei"- erence character Y I schematically designates a transportation unit such as a refrigerator car having a bottom 2 and opposite side walls 3 `and 4. A normally extending framestrueture is provided and suspended throughsuitable suspension means 6 from a crane adapted toraise and'lower the ramestructure with respect to `the enclosure constituting the transportation unit. The frame structure is connected through suspension members I andB, and 9 and I0; with 'horizontally extending anglev members II and I2, `and I4 and I5, respectively. The angle members II'and I2"'extend in spaced longitudinalI positions and support the coplanar frame members I6, I'I, and I8, I9, respectively. The frame members I6, I1, and I8, I9, form with the longitudinal extendingangle members II, I2 and I4, l5, 'a

.f pair of. polygonally-shaped, horizontally Lextending pendent frame structures suspended from v,rotating in the frame members. jslidable pintle members has a pin projecting from theV end thereof Iwhich I have indicated at 4t each end of frame structure 5. These polygonally-shaped frame structures are dimensioned so that the linear dimension of frame members I6, l1 and i8, i9 is appreciably less than the interior lateral dimension of the enclosure of the transportation unit. The maximum longitudinal dimension of both of the pendent frame structures is also appreciably less than the longitudinal dimension of the transportation unit l.

In the arrangement shown the maximum longitudinal dimension of the frame structure, from transversely extending frame member I6 to transversely extending frame member I9, is appreciably less than one-half the length of the transportation unit. The reason for this relative proportioning of the pendent frame structures with respect to the interior dimensions of the transportation unit is to permit the introduction of the sheet-like metallic flooring, represented generally at 2U, through the open top of the transportation unit.

The metallic sheet ilooring 26 is formed from stainless steel or plastic sheet or other material which may be produced either in a continuous sheet or assembled from laterally extending strips, as represented in Fig. 3. Where the iiooring is assembled from laterally extending strips a plurality of strips are welded at their adjoining lateral edges, as represented at 28a, b, 23d

and 20e, to form a fiat continuous sheet of iloorthat they extend substantially normal to the plane of the strip 2li. Corresponding side kwalls 20 and 2li are formed on each of the strips constituting the entirev area of metal ooring. The end strip of the metallic flooring represented at 26 extends under the end partition 2| in the transportation unit l which separates the storage space from the closure 22 at the end of the transportation unit which houses the refrigeration unit.

The upwardly extending side walls 20 and 25 provided on each of the laterally extending strips making up the flooring are each welded to the other as represented in Fig. 3, so that a troughlikeY sheet is provided. The side walls of the trough-like sheet indicated at 20 and 26" are provided with prearranged sets of transversely aligned apertures which I have represented in Fig. 3 at 2li- 2Q 25-28, 2?-28 and 29-30. rIhese apertures are in transversely aligned pairs in alignment lwith the horizontally extending frame members indicated at i6, Il, and i8, I9. rlhe horizontally extending frame members have tubular portions at each of the ends thereof which I have represented more clearly in Figs. 4, 5 and 9, as for example at lea. These tubular portions each receive a slidable pintle member which I have represented in Fig. 3, at 3l, 32, 33, 3e, 35, 36, 37 and 33. The pintle members are keyed in the opposite ends of the frame members so that they will slide therein to laterally project or retract without rotating.

In the form of my invention shown, I shape the tubular portions of the laterally extending frame members l5, il and I3, I9 so that they are polygonal in section and provide slidable pintles of corresponding cross section. Thus the pintles are free to project or retract without Each of the flooring fiattens out.

and shown more clearly in Fig. '7. The pin 40 has a needle-like, streamlined, terminus adapted to enter and be retracted from the aligned aperture in the slide wall of the metallic flooring. Each pin ai] has a transverse slotted portion 4l therein adapted to engage the upper internal edge of the aperture in the side wall of the flooring as the pin is projected through the aperture.

As represented in Fig. l, the metallic sheet iiooring is initially proportioned in size to the base structure on which it is to be laid and has the side walls 2B and 20 thereof engaged by the pins l0 of the oppositely arranged, slidable pintle members 3l, 32. Upon engagement in this manner the sheet of metallic ilooring may be picked up from a loading position by a crane with the entire area of metallic flooring gravitationally suspended and pendently hanging in a catenary, as represented in Fig. 1. Because of the proportioning of the linear dimensions of the coplanar frame members I6, i and i3, i9, the entire area of flooring may be lowered through the open top of the transportation unit, as represented inY Fig. 1, with the metallic flooring hanging in a catenary as shown, and with the slidable pintle members all in retracted position as represented in Figs. l and 4. As the metallic ooring 2@ is deposited on the base structure 2 of the transportation unit, as represented in Fig. 2, the catenary curve of the suspended metallic This results in the outward exing of side walls 23 and 26, resulting in the automatic projection of the slidable pintles 3l, 32, 33, 311, 35, 35, 37 and 38 to a position in which the side walls 20 and 29 ex out- `wardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 5, in

vIn this position the side walls 2G and 26" of metallic flooring 2B spring to a position adjacent the interior of the transportation unit as represented by the side walls 2 and 3 thereof in Fig. 6, and shown in plan view in Fig. 3. The rig may now-be raised by the crane from the transportation unit with the sheet flooring laid in position for installation in sealing relation to the side walls of the transportation unit.

The material forming the sheet-like ooring 2 has substantial resiliency and the side walls 20' and 20 are flexed in accordance with the position of the catenary of the weighted ooring 2U. To insure this exing the side walls 20 and 20 are initially shaped in a bending machine so that they are vertically disposed in planes substantially normal to the horizontal plane of the sheetlike flooring 26. By gravitationally employing the mass of the sheet-like flooring 20 to flex the side walls 2Q and 2t the projection of the pintle members is controlled and the ultimate release of very effective, but I realize that modications in the details of my invention may be made and I desire that it be understood that no limitations lupon my invention are intended other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

l. A rig for laying sheet flooring comprising a horizontally extending frame structure, including a plurality of coplanar frame members each having linear dimensions appreci-ably less than the interior lateral and longitudinal dimensions of the base structure on which the sheet flooring is applied, said frame members terminating in later-ally extending tubular portions, slidable pintle members carried in said tubular portions, said pintle members each having a slotted terminus thereon for engaging apertured edges of the side walls of a metallic sheet constituting the flooring for suspending said metallic sheet in a catenary adapted to be deposited on the base structure and automatically released as the catenary portion of said sheet contacts the base structure and said slidable pintle members are drawn outwardly to positions where the apertured edges of the side walls of the metallic sheet disengage from the slotted termini of said pintle members.

2. A rig for laying sheet flooring comprising a horizontally extending frame structure, including a multiplicity of coplanar frame members each having linear dimensions appreciably less than the interior lateral and longitudinal dimensions of the base structure on which the sheet flooring is applied, said frame members terminating in laterally extending tubular portions, each having a polygonal section, slidable pintle members of corresponding polygonal section slid-able into and out of the ends of said frame members and each having a transversely slotted terminus to engage apertured edges of the side walls of a metallic sheet constituting the flooring for suspending said metallic sheet in a catenary adapted to be deposited on the base structure and automatically released as the catenary portion of said sheet is deposited on the base structure, and the side walls which are connected therewith oriented outwardly for drawing said slidable pintle members outwardly to positions to disengage the apertured edges of the side walls of said sheet from the slotted termini of said pintle members.

3. A rig for laying sheet ooring comprising a horizontally extending frame structure, including a plurality of spaced coplanar frame members each having linear dimensions appreciably less than the lateral and longitudinal dimensions of the base structure on which the sheet flooring is applied, said frame members terminating in laterally extending tubular portions, pintle members carried by said frame structure, said pintle members having a non-rotative but slidable connection with the lateral ends of said frame members, and each having a transversely slotted terminus to engage apertured edges of the side walls of a metallic sheet constituting the ooring for suspending said metallic sheet in a catenary adapted to be deposited on the base structure and automatically released as the catenary portion of said sheet is deposited on the base structure, and the side walls which are connected therewith oriented outwardly for drawing said slidable pintle members outwardly to positions to disengage the apertured edges of the side walls of said sheet from the slotted termini of said pintle members.

4. A rig for laying sheet flooring comprising a horizontally extending frame structure, including a plurality of spaced coplanar frame members each having linear dimensions appreciably less than the lateral and longitudinal dimensions of the base structure on which the sheet flooring is applied, said frame members terminating in laterally extending transverse rectangular tubular sections, pintle members carried by said frame structure, said pintle members each having a rectangular transverse section slidable Within the transverse rectangular tubular sections of said frame members, said pintle members each having a transversely slotted terminus to engage apertured edges of the side walls of a metallic sheet constituting the ilooring for suspending said metallic sheet in a catenary adapted to be deposited on the base structure and automatically released as the catenary portion of said sheet is deposited on the base structure, and the side walls which are connected therewith oriented outwardly for drawing said slidable pintle members outwardly to positions to disengage the apertured edges of the side walls of said sheet from the slotted termini of said pintle members.

5. A rig for laying sheet flooring comprising a horizontally extending frame structure, including a plurality of spaced coplanar frame members each having linear dimensions appreciably less than the lateral and longitudinal dimensions ci' the base structure on which the sheet flooring is applied, said frame members terminating in laterally extending tubular portions, slidable pintle members carried in said tubular portions, said pintle members each having a pin projecting therefrom for engagement through apertures in the side walls of a metallic sheet constituting the ooring for suspending said metallic sheet in a catenary adapted to be deposited on the base structure and automatically detached from said `pins as the catenary portion of said sheet is laid pins.

LEO C. LUKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number Name Date y 1,639,788 Uline Aug. 23, 1927 2,471,323 Harrington May 24, 1949 

